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Comment by jb1991 | Hacker News Reader

jb1991

> That's funny, he believes he owns an Apple device. Sorry, no. Apple locks down the device with strong crypto and rents you limited permissions, they sell a computing service, not a device. Apple are the only ones who get to say what code ultimately runs on their hardware.

If you buy a car, is it your car? You very possibly cannot do things with it independently, on your own, without manufacturer involvement or without voiding any warranties you have. The same idea extends to many things. I'm defending Apple here, but this idea that it's not your own device is silly IMO.

(prediction: I'll probably get downvoted)

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I'm not really sure I follow this logic as when you buy a car you can do whatever you want to it without effecting the warranty as proven by the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975 which states that only if the modification is directly responsible for the issue could it be grounds to not service under warranty.

What if you mess around with, say, the OS on a Tesla?

My argument is not about cars, really, it's just a point I'm trying to make.

If it doesn't cause an accident, I don't see the issue. I'd love to hack on a Tesla OS.

The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975 was likely created for a reason. If the same reason is valid for modifying the OS on a Tesla, then either the law still apply or the law need to be updated to include the words "also valid if done in software".

I heard you cannot remove the seatbelt.

Yes, but if you do remove the seatbelt that does not void the warranty on the engine.

I'm very fine with voiding my warranty when doing modifications to the system, but all I want is to run custom software in the userspace (at least). That's how computers work and Apple wants us to consider their devices computers[0].

Some people might want to have full access to the OS, but allowing custom software in the userspace would still be a huge step and enough for most people.

p.s. It's hard to compare a computing device to a car because what's an equivalent of usespace in car? Changing oil? Changing tires? You can do it yourself, you can even change spark plugs, without voiding your warranty.

0: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI-iJcC9JUc

More to the point, with a car if you modify it you may very well render it illegal to operate on a public highway. Same can certainly apply to a phone’s use of the cell network.

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